Reading Eagle: Ben Hasty |
Vic Corcino, of Exeter, with some of his photos from Puerto Rico that he donated to the raffle to raise money for hurricane victims. Corcino was in Puerto Rico with family when the hurricane hit. During the Jammin' For Puerto Rico
fundraiser held at Sofrito Gastro Pub in Reading Tuesday evening October 10, 2017. The event was held to raise money for Puerto Rican relief after the damage done by the hurricane. Photo by Ben Hasty

Reading Eagle: Ben Hasty |
During the Jammin' For Puerto Rico
fundraiser held at Sofrito Gastro Pub in Reading Tuesday evening October 10, 2017. The event was held to raise money for Puerto Rican relief after the damage done by the hurricane. Photo by Ben Hasty

Reading Eagle: Ben Hasty |
Vic Corcino, of Exeter, and his sister Rebecca Corcino, of Bensalem, pose for a photo together wearing shirts that say I survivied Hurricane Maria, and have a Puerto Rican flag on them. They were in Puerto Rico visiting family when the hurricane hit. During the Jammin' For Puerto Rico fundraiser held at Sofrito Gastro Pub in Reading Tuesday evening October 10, 2017. The event was held to raise money for Puerto Rican relief after the damage done by the hurricane. Photo by Ben Hasty

Reading Eagle: Ben Hasty |
Chris Gonzalez, of Cumru, and Rosa Julia Rodriguez, put raffle tickets in bags for items, and look at the different items up for raffle. During the Jammin' For Puerto Rico
fundraiser held at Sofrito Gastro Pub in Reading Tuesday evening October 10, 2017. The event was held to raise money for Puerto Rican relief after the damage done by the hurricane. Photo by Ben Hasty

Reading’s Sofrito Gastro Pub holds benefit for hurricane victims

A group of blues and jazz musicians performed at "Jamminí for Puerto Rico."

Written by Reading Eagle

Reading, PA —

Sofrito Gastro Pub in Reading was packed Tuesday night for a benefit to support hurricane relief efforts in Puerto Rico.

A group of blues and jazz musicians who regularly perform at the restaurant came together as the Sofrito All-Stars for "Jammin' for Puerto Rico." All proceeds from the $5 cover charge and a portion of food and drink sales will be donated to the cause.

At least one man at the benefit knew firsthand the extent of the devastation on the ground in Puerto Rico. Vic Corcino, 40, of Exeter Township was in Puerto Rico for his grandmother's funeral before Hurricane Maria made landfall, and he stayed for five days to help neighbors in the aftermath following the storm.

Corcino's grandmother lived in San Sebastiť°n, a mountainous region on the western side of the island. He said the area is still without electricity or running water.

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"I was fortunate to get out when I did," he said, adding that he plans to return soon to help in the rebuilding efforts.

Corcino created a slideshow with images from before, during and after the storm, and his family started a GoFundMe page to raise money for supplies. Both can be found online by searching the hashtag #MoveMountains4PR on Facebook.